Jenkins is part of Milwaukee community

Geoff Jenkins leads the Brewers with a .351 average and eight RBIs in the early part of this season, but during the decade he's spent in Milwaukee, the slugging outfielder has also been a consistent team leader when it comes to community involvement.

Jenkins, who came to the Brewers' organization as the club's first-round draft pick in 1995, has focused his community work in two areas: He brings needy children to Brewers' games and is the team spokesman for the fight against prostate cancer.

Jenkins would like to do even more, but realizes any big leaguer has his limits of time and energy to help good causes.

"There are so many good organizations you can give to," Jenkins said. "You get charity offers left and right. You can't do them all. I do Jermaine Dye's and Mark Grace's golf tournaments. You try to give your time where you can. You make the effort to do some stuff."

A few trade rumors swirled around Jenkins in Spring Training, mainly because he's in the final year of his contract, but it's hard to imagine Jenkins in another city's uniform. He's only worn one during his 1,113 games in the Majors, and he's become part of the community.

For the past five years, the local Boys and Girls Clubs take an annual excursion to Miller Park that's sponsored by Jenkins.

"A couple of thousand kids come to a game, get their food paid for, bus to the game and get a souvenir," he said. "It's something that feels good to give back."

Although he's another decade or two away from needing a prostate exam himself, Jenkins realizes every bit of attention helps the fight against the widespread cancer. So for about four years, Jenkins has represented the Brewers in prostate cancer awareness efforts.

"I coordinate it for the team," he said. "I think it's a big deal to support it. Nobody's actually had (prostate cancer) in my family, knock on wood. But we're all susceptible. I heard one in five males get it after a certain age.

"I think it's a good deal for MLB where we have a day of awareness for it. It's great where we have such a big stage in baseball where we have a whole day where we have blue wristbands and have eye-blue instead of eye-black. It's just a real nice deal to make people aware and get checked."

Jenkins may not be able to get involved in every charitable program that comes his way, but he figures that if everyone gets involved in a good cause or two, a lot of needs will be filled.

"There's no one way to do it, small or big," he said. "As long as you're trying to make a difference in somebody's life, that's great."